Gather Ye Roses While Ye May
The work is a poetic exploration of the themes of time, beauty, and the fleeting nature of life. It urges readers to seize the moment and enjoy life while they can, as time is constantly moving forward and beauty is transient. The poem suggests that life should be lived with vigor and enthusiasm, embracing opportunities and experiences rather than succumbing to regret or hesitation. It contrasts the carefree enjoyment of life with the more cautious and reserved approach, advocating for a bold and spirited engagement with the world. The imagery of flowers, particularly roses, symbolizes the ephemeral nature of beauty and the importance of appreciating it before it fades. The work encourages a proactive and lively approach to life, emphasizing the inevitability of change and the importance of making the most of the present.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1648 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Carpe Diem · 233 words
First lines
Gather ye roses while ye may, / Old time is still a-flying; / A world where beauty fleets away / Is no world for denying.
Come lads and lasses, fall to play / Lose no more time in sighing.
The very flowers you pluck today, / Tomorrow will be dying; / And all the flowers are crying, / And all the leaves have tongues to say --
Gather ye roses while ye may.
What this Textopian page supports
Gather Ye Roses While Ye May is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1648 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Date: 1648 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Carpe Diem, Romantic, Philosophical
- Length: 233 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Gather Ye Roses While Ye May by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Poetry — The work is composed entirely in verse with structured meter, imagery, and language typical of poetry.
- Lyric Poetry — It expresses personal emotions and reflections, making it a prime example of lyric poetry.
- Carpe Diem — The central theme of seizing fleeting moments aligns precisely with the carpe diem genre.
- Romantic — The celebration of natural beauty and the emphasis on emotion reflect elements of Romantic literary tradition.
Tags
carpe diem · transience · nostalgia · ephemeral · romance · reflective · poetic · allegorical · lifestyle · fugacity · beauty · memento mori
More by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Treasure Island (1883)
- The Pavilion on the Links (1909)
- Olalla (1885)
- A Child's Garden of Verses (1885)
- Father Damien, An Open Letter To The Reverend Doctor Hyde Of Honolulu (1914)
- A Lowden Sabbath Morn (1916)
- Songs of Travel and Other Verses (1908)
- Prayers Written At Vailima (1916)
- All works by Robert Louis Stevenson